V is for victory.

I have taken some time off from blogging and it felt really good.  It doesn't mean I stopped taking pictures or we stopped having fun and I really don't have an explanation as to why I did.  I just did and it felt really good! 

Yesterday was a victory day here at the Ramsey's.  Jack started pre-school at Buoys and Gulls at our church 2 weeks ago and has not been a fan of going.  I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest every time I drop him off.  Once he's there he loves it but the drop off has been torture for me.  Abigail always loved going to pre-school from day one so this was all NEW.  I take that back, day one she did cry a little and as I walked out I looked back in and saw her rip her bow out of her hair and throw it across the room!  I will never forget that, I was crying too but I laughed so hard at that!! :)  She never cried a day after.

So on Monday I decided to let him take his backpack to the YMCA with his trains in it thinking maybe that would help him in thinking school is fun.  I'm not sure if it was that or me letting him take his beloved Polar Express movie in with him yesterday at drop off but he walked in without hesitation.  He never even asked about me????  But his wonderful teacher Mrs. Leslie did tell me that we are friends, they were talking about friends and he said his mama was his friend.  I am crying as I am typing this even though I know he is going to be just fine and I am so excited for him to grow, learn and make new friends.  It's just been plain hard on me, it's that simple.  I hope yesterday was the start of something! 

 

Here he is on Monday morning, his practice run of taking his back pack to the YMCA!  ;)

 

 

 

Here he was yesterday morning before school.  Looking so very grown up I might add. 

 

 

For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

 

 Isaiah 30:19

 

 

JUST DANCE~

 

The theme for Abigail's birthday party this year was Just Dance!  She had a pool party at the Bethpage Camp Resort in Urbanna!  I had planned for her party to be on her actual birthday Tuesday August 11, 2015 but we decided the Sunday before to reschedule for Thursday since it was supposed to rain.  I am so glad we did since it did rain on her birthday and party day was great pool weather.  Eleven of her favorite friends came to help her celebrate and they swam, ate pizza, had cake and had a blast going down the water slides. 

 

 

 

Abigail between the two Laurens!

 

 

Our "7" year old.

 

Carrie (Robbie's girlfriend) and her three children, Bailey, Lilly and Riley.

The gang, minus Aidan and Hannah...they had already left.  And JACK. :)

Jack and I!

 

 

Mimi and her girl.  We missed Pop's but he came down with the flu on Tuesday.  :(

 

 

Cake time!

 

 

 

We ordered pizza from Angelo's Colonial Pizza in Urbanna and it was delicious!

 

 

Opening presents!



Here are Aidan, Roane, Ray, Lauren, Lauren, and Abigail on the splash pad!

Happy Birthday precious and beautiful girl.  We love you so much and are so glad you had a fun day!

Love,
Mama, Daddy, & Jack

 





All aboard ~

We've just been enjoying these last days of summer and soaking up all of this beautiful weather we've had lately.  It was so chilly last Friday evening that I put a sweatshirt on and I've noticed some leaves starting to fall off the trees that outline our yard.  A sure sign the seasons are getting ready to change over in the coming months.  And I am ok with that, that's why I love living in Virginia.  We get to experience all four seasons and I love each of them. 

 

This precious baby girl is growing growing growing.  Adalean is already in a 3-6mo. outfit, she is so sweet and I love her smile.  What fun she is!

Mama, Mom, Layla, Abigail, Landon and Jack went on a train trip.  They left out of Williamsburg and went to Alexandria.  It was just a day trip but they had a lot of fun.  Jack has been wanting to go on a train so I am so glad they did this.  



Layla spent the summer in Mathews and it was so fun having her around.  She cut her hair short for the summer, I wasn't sure at first because it made her look so much older but she loved it and it grew on me. 

 



 

All aboard!

 



 

Mama and I took all the children to the bounce house on one of the real hot days.  I hate don't like that place but boy do they love it.  Another fun day!  

 

I took Abigail, Jack and Hannah to the petting zoo in Hartfield.  This is the second time we've been there this summer.  They love seeing and petting all the animals. 

 

 

The GIRLS and BOY of SUMMER!  They love jumping off the dock at the Islander!

 

 



 

 

I moved Abigail's room around last week and re-organized and cleaned it out.  She is ready for a new school year.  I always like to do that a couple of times a year, such a good feeling.

 

We've still got a few more fun things planned for the summer.  We have both Abigail (2nd grade) and Jack's (pre-school) school supply list so we will be getting those this weekend.  I love new school supplies and the smell of a fresh new box of crayons.  I however do not like the first day of pre-school.  I cried like a baby with Abigail and feel certain I will with Jack.  Although, it may help some knowing I am leaving Jack with a very dear friend of mine who I have known my whole life and love and trust to the ends of the earth.  I think that will help a lot.  We shall see.  :)

 



Sizzling summer!

It has been HOT!  When I think about this summer I think gull bladder.. :)  and 100 degrees!  It's just been plain toasty!  But hey, that's what summer is all about and I am not complaining!  With the exception of the gull bladder part, I definitely could have done without that! HA!

I am doing so much better.  They ended up taking my gull bladder out and a lymph node.  My gull bladder was inflamed which has a very fancy term that I will not bore you with and the lymph node was benign.  I am nearing week 3 and seeing healing with each passing day.  My parents did all kinds of fun things with Abigail and Jack for my first week of recovery and I am so thankful for them.

I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's, can you believe I had never seen this movie?  Mama let me borrow it and I loved it.  I have been told that I looked like her in that movie, not so sure about that ;)I will never be as gorgeous as she is but I'll take the compliment!

I am so thankful for the calls, texts, food, cards, Facebook and just the outpouring of love after my surgery.  Thank you seems inadequate. 

 

 

 

 

My parents visited my Aunt Peggy who lives in Ricmond and Abigail went with them. Aunt Peggy is my late grandfather's sister.  So she is actually my great aunt.  She was married to Uncle Mackey, Jack Mackey.  I spent some time with them growing up and the trips to her house are etched in my memory forever.  She has always been an avid tennis player and spends part of her time in her condo in Hawaii.  I'm so glad Abigail was able to spend some time with her. 

 

 

 

 

Jack had never been to my beloved Bethel Beach.  For those of you readers in other countries or out  of state (I can see where I have readers all over the world) this is a small beach about five minutes from where I grew up.  Mama and I went to this beach when I was a child and I treasure those memories.  It was also the "hang out" during my teen years.  So one evening before dinner Abigail, Jack and I (Robert was working late)rode down there and walked to the end and I told them stories from when I was a kid.  They loved hearing about it!  There use to be trees along the water and a lot more beach than what is there now and it became very apparent to me that it is slowly washing away.  I wonder if it will even still be there twenty years from now. 

 

 

 

I am loving my black eyed susans, they are such a bright cheery flower and just make me smile. 

 

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

-Rhonda- 

 

 

A renewed sense of me.

I woke up on a Monday morning 3 weeks ago with plans to workout and pack for our upcoming vacation.  Instead I woke up with stomach and back pains like nothing I had ever had before.  I went on with my day although I didn't workout simply because I didn't feel good.  I kept thinking it would go away and it came and went while we were on vacation.  I did feel good enough to run one morning while we were away but that was it.  I have only ran twice in three weeks.  When I am better I just may run across the country so watch out!  ;)  Finally I went to urgent care the day after we got home from vacation for them to tell me they just weren't sure what it was and to see my family doctor in a few days if I didn't feel better.  All of my blood work was perfect.  I kept wondering and reading what in the world could be causing this discomfort inside of me.  I went to my family doctor a few days later and she put me on an anti inflammatory for ten days.  I took my medicine and on the tenth day still no relief.  I finally scheduled an ultrasound so mama went with me.  I know the awesome girl that did my ultrasound and she definitely put me a ease.  I have to admit, I wasn't scared of what may be found but somewhat anxious.  I have a 1 cm stone, sludge or polyp laying at the neck of my gull bladder.  YES, finally an answer.  My grandmother kept saying I was having twins, no twins Mom!!!  :)    So I will be having a procedure on Monday to remove my gull bladder.

I have learned a lot through these last weeks about myself and about life.  I think just the not knowing was the real hard part.  My mind went places I had never gone before.  All of the what if's.....what if it's something really serious and I am not able to care for my children, husband and my family the way I need and want to.  Also what if it's something really minor like my gull bladder or appendix and why didn't I get an ultrasound sooner?!  I was also surprised at Abigail's reaction.  She and I were sitting outside when I told her I would be having surgery and that she would be staying with Mimi and Pop's for a few days.  I did not expect her to cry when I told her.  I quickly gathered my thoughts and assured her this was nothing serious and I was going to be just fine. 

I feel renewed by this experience and incredibly blessed that this is a simple fix. 

Calling all firemen!

Jack loves fire trucks, if I had to guess right now as to what he will be 20 years from now it would be a firefighter!  Every time we drive by a fire house he gets so excited and if we see or hear sirens no matter what it is, an ambulance or police car he inevitably says it's a fire truck!  I knew he would absolutely love visiting cousin Bill's fire station.   Bill so graciously gave the children a tour, he served them ice cream and let them try on his gear!  It was a lot of fun and I know my children will never forget it!  We can't wait to go back!!!!

 

Thank you Bill for an extra special tour!  It was great!

 

 

 

After we left the fire station we had dinner at the yacht club with Margaret!  Here are Jack and Lena looking at the boats!

 

I think it's safe to say Jack was done! ;)

 

 

Mama and daddy had a cook out for the 4th!  We spent the day there and it was so much fun!

 

 

 Watching some baseball!!!!!!

 

Ofcourse music was made and this little boy hung right in with Pop's and his uncles strumming along on this guitar!  And apparently when I wasn't in there put on quite a show singing "Wagon Wheel."

 



 

 

Landon doing sparklers!

 



 

Mom took cover on the swing when the rain set in!

 

My heart was smiling, loved having my brother's and our families together.  We were all soaked at this point, the rain was coming down!

 

Rob on guitar!

 

We watched the fireworks at the high school and as always they were awesome!

 

Abigail is doing great in swimming lessons!  Today she swam the whole length of the pool learning the breaststroke!

 



 

Jack wanted to look for crabs while Abigail was in lessons, so we walked down the docks looking but never found any!

 

Here is Jack with his instructor Miss Melissa, he loves her!

 

 

Summer time fun~!

Life lately has just been happening!  Abigail had her friend Danny and Roane's birthday party weekend before last and Jack tagged along!  He had never bowled before and loved it!  Abigail had a lot of fun too seeing her friends!

 

I want to thank my friend Deanna for personalizing these beach towels for me!  I love love love how they turned out!  If you need anything, monogrammed, personalized or appliqued she is your go to girl!

 

Robert, the children and I packed up and headed south to the Outer Banks last Tuesday!  We stayed in Nags Head and joined The Marshall's and Flippen's in Corolla!  We had such a great week and loved being with everyone!

 

 

Abigail and Lena had a really great time together! 

 

 

 

The kid's loved having Auntie Elizabeth around!

 

 John, Thomas, Abigail, Lena and Jack!

 

 

Abigail, Thomas and Lena!

 

Jack loved putting this Elmo firefighter puzzle together and requested that Bill help him this time! :) Thomas joined in on the fun too!

 

Abigail, Will, Kate and Thomas having hot dogs and hamburgers!

 

We had dinner at mama and daddy's on sunday afternoon and Jack had to ride the lawnmower with Pop's!

 

 

 

Abigail and Jack both started swim lessons yesterday, here they are before we left early yesterday morning!

 

And I just have to put this on here so I won't forget it!  Today I was watering and pulling off the dead hibiscus blooms on my plant!  Jack was on the deck with me and was walking around waving the American flag and just as nonchalant he asked me if it was called a "HIBISCUIT"  I laughed so hard, oh that boy!  There is a lesson here, they are listening to everything we say!